added to The List

I have started a list on my computer of meals that are keepers.  These are things that I know I can always cook pretty easily and know Justin will be happy with. 

Two nights ago I added one to the list.

It’s nothing even remotely fancy.  It’s out of a box.  But it sure is yummy!

We had both been craving some sort of Chinese food.  But honestly, I’m afraid to try new places.  You never know what you are gonna get… if it will be good or not.  So when I saw this the other day, I picked it up.  There are several different flavors.  We can’t wait to try some other ones.

quality time

Last weekend Candice and Dom were going to a birthday party at a waterpark and didn’t want to take Ava with them.  Naturally, I kept her!  And I loved it!  We went down to the pool and swam and played games for a lonnng time.  She was very brave and was jumping off the side into the pool all by herself… with floaties of course!

After swim time was over, we came in and made the biggest mess we could out of my living room.

She just loved sitting in this little crate and having me pile things on top of her… crazy kid!

We also watched The Little Mermaid, cuddled in my bed, ate lots of food, played with the kitty-kitty, colored, drew pictures, and built towers out of her blocks.  It was a great day for Ava and Aunt Lissa.  :)

a new pattern

I’ve noticed a new pattern with my blogging.  I go forever and a day without posting anything, and then suddenly I post 2 or 3 posts about all kinds of stuff. 

I don’t really like this new normal, but it’s the best I can do for now.  I stay pretty busy, and then when I finally sit down to blog it all just pours out.

So here we go again….

1.) I finished “I Will Carry You” days after I started it.  It was really, really good.  Most of the content I had read before on Angie’s blog, but in the book she is more personal.  Justin asked me when I finished it if I had cried.  I most certainly did.  Twice.  Angie writes in a way that just draws you in.  You can imagine being there and feeling those emotions.  I definitely recommend the book.  I hope she writes another. 

2.)  We got our (2nd) new camera in recently.  This time it’s a keeper.  We got the Canon PowerShot SD780 IS.  It is super tiny and takes great pictures and video (for a cheap point and shoot).  Sylvester likes it too.  :)

3.) The other day, Justin ran in Race Trac to fill up our  “free-fill” cups.  He found out they can also be used for icees!!!  Yayyy :)

4.) Last week we went on a date to…. IHOP! Haha.. it may seem like an odd “date place”, but I love it!  Breakfast for dinner almost can’t be beat in my book.

After dinner we went over to a friend’s house for some ice cream.  He went to the store and bought the ice cream and cones before we got there.  As soon as we got there I went to the restroom.  When I came out this is what I saw..

That was my ice cream cone.  I thought the guy ate half my cone.  I was so confused.  Turns out Jared accidentally bought mini cones and didn’t know it.  We all got a good laugh.  Haha!  Good memories anyway!

**attention**

I’m just a little bit excited to have finally finished my new website!  It took lots of money (for us) and lots of time to get it ready to go live for all the world to see.  I still have some work to do in adding photos to the galleries, but that will come in time.

Here it is:

www.melissaperkinsphotography.com

 

:)

 

precious (big) girl

 

 

I love this girl more than words can describe, and I was thrilled when she and her mommy and her daddy came over yesterday to hang out.  We swam (which she loves right now) and had dinner together.  It was wonderful!  She is growing up so fast.  Every time I see her I can tell that she has grown a little taller and her vocabulary is growing like crazy.  I wish I could slow it down a little!!!

family time

This past weekend Justin’s family (mom, dad, and sister) came in and stayed with us.  We had so much fun shopping, eating, going to the zoo, eating, going to church, and eating.  Pretty sure we all overdid it in the food department, but it was well worth it!

Justin and I went to the Dallas Zoo last year, but this was our first time going to the Fort Worth Zoo.  It was great!  It had lots of animals and a gift shop and a few places to eat.  It even had a train to bring you back to the beginning after you exhausted yourself walking to the end!  :)

A few of my favorite pics:

    

When we got to the white tiger, it was pacing back and forth in front of the glass.  Justin thought it would be a good idea to pound on the glass a little bit.  When he did, the tiger raised up on his back feet and started clawing at it.  It was exciting for everyone around us!  And then the little kids around us starting doing it too.  Justin is always one to entertain! haha

I definitely wanna go back…. but maybe sometime when it’s less hot outside.  June is not the ideal month for going to the zoo in Texas!     

more stuff

Hmmm..  I just feel like blogging.

I don’t really like that I haven’t blogged anything of substance lately, but that’s just how it is.  Just lots and lots of randomness going on.

To start out this post I will do a little bragging.  **First let me preface this with the fact that my in-laws are coming in town on Friday, and I’ve been a little concerned with when I would have time to get the house all cleaned up before they get here.**  Now on with the bragging---  When I got home from work today, I walked in to find the floors swept and vacuumed, the bed made, the clutter cleaned up, and the dishes done.  I have one fabulous husband :) :) :)  Now all I have to do is clean the bathrooms, mop,  and dust.  I’m super pumped! 

I’m also pretty excited about a special little deal that Race Trac is running around here.  Not sure if it’s just this area or not, but I’m happy about it.  You can buy a cup from them for like 6 or 7 bucks and then get free refills all summer long!  Justin and I both got one and have already gotten our money’s worth.  I wonder if Sonic will miss me?! Ha!

And to top it all off, I just got a new book to read.  No, I still haven’t finished the other 3 that I’ve started… but I have a feeling this one will be a really quick read for me.

Angie Smith has a wonderful touching and inspiring blog called Bring the Rain.  If you don’t already read it, you should check it out.  This book is all about her pregnancy with her fourth daughter, Audrey, that passed away soon after birth and the story of how her family kept hope through the tragedy.

I haven’t started it yet, but probably will tonight.  I know I’m most likely going to cry my eyes out.  I have such a soft heart for people that experience miscarriages or lose their little ones.  I literally tear up with big alligator tears just thinking about how that must feel… and surely the reality of it is a million times worse than I even imagine.